0
Mudclay Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Company name + plural/singular

Dear teachers,

Please help me to understand this. When do we use singular and plural on company names?

e.g

Nokia + singular

Nokia + plural

- Nokia have just released their latest smartphone.

- Nokia Research have pushed out what could be the first step toward it.

- Nokia is a leading cellphone company.

- Nokia has plans to introduce a yellow and a white Lumia 800 next year.

Thanks in advance!

MC
  

Top answer

Generally speaking, nouns like Nokia (including corporations, sports teams, professional associations, etc. - basically any noun which, while it comprises a group of people, is in some sense independent of those people) are treated as plural in British (and perhaps generally Commonwealth) English and singular in American English. S.

— CSnyder

  • Generally speaking, nouns like Nokia (including corporations, sports teams, professional associations, etc.
  • - basically any noun which, while it comprises a group of people, is in some sense independent of those people) are treated as plural in British (and perhaps generally Commonwealth) English and singular in American English.
  • S.
  • "
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Generally speaking, nouns like Nokia (including corporations, sports teams, professional associations, etc. - basically any noun which, while it comprises a group of people, is in some sense independent of those people) are treated as plural in British (and perhaps generally Commonwealth) English and singular in American English. So you would see "Nokia have just released their latest smartphone"
0
0
I see. Will it be acceptable either way?

e.g

Nokia are the leading cellphone company.

Nokia is the leading cellphone company.

MC
0
0
It depends on whether you're writing for a British or American audience. Either variation will be recognizable and understandable to a native speaker of either variety of English, but it will look odd to some people no matter which you choose.
0
0
Thanks CS, it's a big help.Emotion: smile
0

Related Questions